An abandoned three-storey brick building in downtown Ottawa — its windows boarded up — once bustled with activity and used to make history.
The century-old building at 158 Gloucester St. was designed and built in 1919 by Robert Holmes, a well-known figure in Ottawa’s architectural history. It first served as the headquarters for the Orange Order, a Protestant fraternal organization that stirred anti-Catholic sentiment across the country, and later become the officer’s mess hall for the Royal Canadian Air Force.
In late January, the City of Ottawa’s built heritage committee and later city council approved its designation as a heritage building because of its “cultural” value and connection to local history. But the designation was granted over the objections of the Department of National Defence, which owns the federal property and wants rid of it.
“The building tells a story,” says Kitchissippi Coun. Jeff Leiper, a member of heritage committee. “There’s a connection with various facets of Ottawa history that staff felt were important to preserve.”
As a result of its close proximity to Parliament Hill as well as Elgin and Wellington streets, the Orange Order — with its fiery anti-Catholic rhetoric — occupied a place in the heart of Canadian politics and city parades.
I think it is important to preserve all of our history. … There’s a difference between preservation for the sake of telling the story of Ottawa history and celebrating it.
— Kitchissippi Coun. Jeff Leiper
“If the building were to disappear,” noted Leiper, “that very problematic history of the (Orange Order) lodge would exist only in … archives on paper form and increasingly digital.”
Although the building supported members of the Orange Order, Leiper says that it is “important to have those physical markers in our city that tell our story for good and for bad.”
“In addition to Protestantism, the Orange Order was known for its loyalty to the British Monarchy, for its role in politics and as a social institution and provider of mutual aid,” states a city report on the building and its historical associations. “The Orange Order was also controversial due to a reputation for sectarianism, anti-Catholicism, and in some cases, rioting.”
If the building is preserved, Leiper anticipates the presence of a plaque and listing that states why the building has been left standing on Gloucester Street.
For a property to be considered of cultural heritage interest, it needs to meet at least two of nine criteria under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act. The building, according to a city report, meets six.
The committee agreed with staff that the building preserves several rare elements of Edwardian Classicism not seen in modern buildings, making it unique to Ottawa history. It was also deemed important to the aesthetic in Centretown.
In summing up the need to protect the bulding’s heritage value, the city report highlighted architectural and historical attributes.
“The building has design value as a rare example of an early twentieth century fraternal hall building with influences of Edwardian Classicism in Ottawa. The property at 158 Gloucester St. also has historical and associative value due to its role as an Orange Hall, as a military mess, and its history as it relates to the role of fraternal organizations in Ottawa’s history and to the role of women in the RCAF,” the report stated.
“Finally, 158 Gloucester Street. also has contextual value as it is physically and historically linked to its surroundings in Centretown as a transitional area between the primarily high-rise office area north of Gloucester and the primarily low-rise residential area to the south.”
During the building’s time as the RCAF mess hall, it was a space where women were formally integrated in the military, marking a change in gender roles within the Canadian Armed Forces.
“I think it is important to preserve all of our history. … There’s a difference between preservation for the sake of telling the story of Ottawa history and celebrating it,” Leiper says.
The Department of National Defence, in a letter to the city, formally opposed the heritage designation and noted federal properties are not subject to municipal declarations under the Ontario Heritage Act.
Noting that a city heritage designation “does not extend to federally owned properties,” the DND letter stated that granting heritage status to a federal building under the act “would exceed its intended scope and create a conflict between provincial legislation and federal authority.”
The letter, signed by Ana Stuermer, chief urban planner and manager of portfolio planning with DND, questioned conclusions that the building has strong heritage value worth preserving.
Stuermer argued the building “has experienced significant deterioration and alterations over time due to natural aging, reducing its ability to convey its original architectural character. Features identified in the (heritage report), including pilasters, granite foundation and decorative parapet, have lost their integrity.”
(158 Gloucester) has experienced significant deterioration and alterations over time due to natural aging, reducing its ability to convey its original architectural character.
— Ana Stuermer, chief urban planner, Department of National Defence
Andrée-Anne Poulin, a spokesperson with DND, said that because the building has deteriorated, it is unsafe to continue operating as a mess hall for the military.
The property has been listed for assessment by the Federal Heritage Review Office, but no formal decision has been made about its future, Poulin added.
At least one certified appraiser needs to review property that the federal government is selling, unless the property interest is less than $500,000 or the value of the lease or license is less than $25,000.
“The Government of Canada’s divestment process ensures efficient, fair, and transparent transaction,” said Poulin, “while considering the interest of the local communities, other levels of government, and fulfilling legal obligations with respect to Indigenous groups.”
